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FIX: Laptop not locking when the lid is closed

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Are you used to simply close the lid on your laptop and leave your office for a snack? Do you have a favorite coffee shop where you work from, but the best bagels are sold across the street? Or do you simply need to use the toilet? You might be used to close the lid and be on your way. But wait! Danger lurks in unexpected shapes and sizes! Anyone can reopen that lid and access your laptop, unless you lock it.

Do you work from home and need to make sure that your toddler does not send a mangled email to the whole organization while you fix yourself a snack? Do you have a prank-prone team around your desk, like I do?

Then you need to make sure your laptop does lock when you close the lid, and this can be an issue, especially for some Windows 10 users.

Follow these simple steps to identify the root of your problem and fix it.

FIX: Laptop not locking when closed

First, you need to check the default settings that establish what happens when you close the lid. Follow these steps to modify the System Settings:

1. Modify the Power Options

If your laptop is still unlocked when it wakes up from sleep, you should make sure you have the right Sign-in options enabled. Here is how to do that:

2. Modify the Sign-in options

3. Edit the Screen Saver options

If the above steps did not help, have a look at your screen saving settings:

4. Run the Troubleshooter

Sometimes you need a thorough system check and that’s when the Windows built-in troubleshooter comes in handy. Here is how to access it:

What if I just want the laptop to lock?

Windows 10 has had mixed reports about its abilities to recover from sleep. What if you simply want to lock the laptop when closing the lid, without entering a Sleep or Hibernate state?

There is a third party software that can help with that, calledLid Lock. It is free to use and although the original developer website location is currently unavailable, you have a safe download source onSoftpedia.

After you install the tool, you can access it fromSystem Tray. As long as you make sureLid Lockloads at the same time with Windows, you don’t need to further configure it.

More about the topics:HP laptop,laptop screen

Teodor Nechita

Eager to help those in need, Teodor writes articles daily on subjects regarding Windows, Xbox, and all things tech-related.

When not working, you may usually find him either at the gym or taking a stroll in the park, trying to find inspiration for the next articles he may write.

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Teodor Nechita